All results of a nationwide election in the US can usually be translated into a ‘binary’ map, divided into red states (Republican, mainly in the middle) and blue states (Democratic, mostly on the coasts). In January of 2004, the Boston Globe newspaper issued an original variation on the theme of political preferences in America: it divided the country into 10 distinct, but not necessarily contiguous areas.
The regions were based on election results, demographic data and certain geographic features. Each one represents about 10% of the electorate (i.e. approximately 10,5 million votes in the 2000 presidential election).
- Northeast Corridor: the richest, best-educated and most densely populated region of the US. A traditionally Democrat-leaning area, it delivered 62% of the vote to Al Gore in 2000. That’s better than any Democrat in any region since LBJ.
- Upper Coasts: anchored by Boston (on the east coast) and San Francisco (on the west coast), this region is relatively affluent and well-educated. Arguably more liberal than the Northeast Corridor, it is less reliably Democratic: third-party candidates do well.
- Farm Belt: has the smallest non-white population, with lower than average population growth. Ranks first in percentage of people who finish high school, but don’t get a higher education. Solidly Republican.
- Big River: has been the most closely contested area in presidential elections for over 30 years. And the region isn’t easily wooed, never giving either candidate more than 55% during this period.
- Appalachia: the poorest and most rural region, but catching up economically. Showed a dramatic swing towards the Republicans in 1980 and stayed that way ever since.
- Sagebrush: named after the anti-bureaucratic Sagebrush Rebellion of the 1970s, this region occupies almost 50% of the US land area. The fastest growing region, it was also Al Gore’s worst region in 2000.
- Great Lakes: centered around Chicago, and suffering from population loss in smaller cities, it has Democrats chasing votes in more rural areas – the suburban counties have been tilting their way, anyway.
- Southern Comfort: fast-growing and average as to income and education, this was part of the ‘Solid South’ that squarely supported the Democratic party around 50 years ago. It has since turned into the most Republican region of the US.
- Southern Lowlands: the largest percentage of African-American voters, who reliably vote Democratic. This voting bloc is matched by some of the most Republican areas in the US, making it a swing area.
- El Norte: the youngest and most Hispanic region, it was carried by Gore in 2000. It is however not solidly Democratic, having recently sent conservative Republicans to Congress (from Florida and Texas).
The map was taken from this page in the Boston Globe archives.
What an interesting map to be reading two days after the midterms… when three Dems took “solidly republican” districts in Indiana farm belt, the Senate seat in Montana, etc etc etc. Politics is a living, breathing organism… that knows no hard-and-fast boundaries.
Comment by jonathan — November 9, 2006 @ 7:34 pm
Regarding “Southern Comfort” where you said “this was part of the ‘Solid South’ that squarely supported the Democratic party around 50 years ago. It has since turned into the most Republican region of the US.” while they were nominally Democrat, it would be more correct to label them “Dixiecrat” (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dixiecrat). They certainly did NOT support the Democratic party when it came to things like integration and civil rights :) In 1948 the northern Dems supported Harry Truman; the Dixiecrats supported Strom Thurmond.
Comment by Limulus — November 9, 2006 @ 8:21 pm
Good lord, I think I’m in Appalachia.
Comment by extrapolater — November 9, 2006 @ 8:52 pm
I don’t think the 2006 election was a repudiation of boundaries AT ALL. Just like the 1974 election, the 1994 election and so on, there are other issues at state which may cause the median to slide around. Notice that very few of these boundaries where classified as insurmountable, and so on. Also notice that just like the south had dixiecrats, today there are dozens of socially conservative or idiosyncratic democrats at the national level.
Comment by Adam Hyland — November 10, 2006 @ 12:01 am
[...] Strangemaps presents a map of the 10 Regions of American Politics. [...]
Pingback by 10 Regions of American Politics « Damascity — November 10, 2006 @ 1:25 am
That’s a well categorized map
Comment by ituloy angsulong — November 10, 2006 @ 3:25 am
Where is Hawaii? Are we not included?
Comment by Sir Blogalot — November 10, 2006 @ 4:08 am
Hawaii is in the region El Norte.
Comment by Benn — November 10, 2006 @ 4:30 am
What does Minnesota have in common politically with western Tennessee that it doesn’t have more in common with the “Upper Coasts”, Maine and Hawaii?
Weird.
Minnesota has voted democratic for every presidential election since Eisenhower, unlike any other state. “The most closely contested area in presidential elections for over 30 years”? Huh?
The map creator shows his/her coastal heritage. I’ve never seen a map that has a political region that starts in Minnesota and goes south past the Mason-Dixie line. Very strange.
Also, what about Corvallis, Oregon, and Davis, California? Why are they grouped with Lubbock, Laramie and the ranch west?
And why would North Dakota have two Democrat senators if the map claim above is true? When was the last time ND was “solidly Republican”? The state legislature almost voted to ban GMO wheat — that’s what _Republicans_ want?
Okay, I’m done.
Austin, Texas
Comment by Tom Wald — November 10, 2006 @ 6:00 am
)
Comment by solnce81 — November 10, 2006 @ 2:30 pm
All I know is, on a local level, the Democrats have taken over my house and John Kerry is hogging the remote control again…
http://markdaycomedy.wordpress.com/2006/11/10/the-democrats-have-taken-control-of-the-house/
Comment by mark day — November 10, 2006 @ 5:38 pm
Let’s hear it for the N.E.C.!
P.s., I love this blog.
Comment by Jeremy — November 10, 2006 @ 6:10 pm
[...] In January of 2004, the Boston Globe newspaper issued an original variation on the theme of political preferences in America: it divided the country into 10 distinct, but not necessarily contiguous areas.read more | digg story Related Articles: Jenna Bush to Serve UNICEF in Paraguay, Not US Forces in IraqPresident Bush’s daughter Jenna came to this poor, landlocked South American country to take part in a UNICEF program for…Poll: Jewish support for Iran strike decliningJewish support for a military strike against Iran is declining, according to a new study. Thirty-eight percent of American Jews would…Top Reasons Why George Bush Is a Good President1. He really wants to have the world be a better place. Often times if a person has a sincere desire…Clinton Deal Cuts School Snack FoodsSnacks sold in schools will have to cut the fat, sugar and salt under the latest crackdown on junk food…Google flexing political muscleGoogle, a global economic force but a latecomer to Washington politics, is trying to boost its influence in Congress with… [...]
Pingback by The 10 Regions of American Politics » KOKYUNAGE NEWS » Not the usual mix. — November 10, 2006 @ 10:31 pm
Interesting study on geo-political mapping. It doesn’t help us understand the political sweep on Tuesday by Democrats. I believe it was a bait and switch. By pitting moderate and conservative Democrats against Republicans during a sleepy mid-term, several key races were won by less than a percentage point. But winner takes all.
Now we know that the new moderate Democrats are the freshmen and the real power is now in the hands of the left-wing Progressive Democrats.
The real Nancy Pelosi — multi-millionaire, non-union resort, dining and winery baroness
Why doesn’t the LA Times or San Francisco Chronicle write about this? Where is the journalists’ oversight by mainstream media?
It’s up to citizen journalists
By Mick Gregory
Nancy Pelosi’s socialist political views are exactly what have kept her elected in San Francisco, along with the flow of union campaign money. The staunch “union supporter” Pelosi has even received the Cesar Chavez Award from the United Farm Workers Union. But her $25 million Napa vineyards and winery, she and her husband own is a non-union shop.
The hypocrisy doesn’t stop there. Pelosi has received more money from the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees union than any other member of Congress in recent election cycles.
The multi-millionaire investors own a large stake in an exclusive resort hotel in Wine Country, the Napa Valley Auberge Du Soleil Resort. It has more than 250 employees. But none of them are in a union, according to Peter Schweizer, author of “Do As I Say, (Not As I Do) – Hypocrisy of Democrats” and a regular contributor to the New York Times.
Pelosi is also partners in a restaurant chain called Piatti, which has 900 employees. The chain is – you might have guessed — a non-union shop.
The 68-year-old Pelosi has spent more money on facelifts and cosmetic enhancements, and Armani suits than any self-centered, faded Hollywood star. But does Pelosi represent your 68-year-old grandma’s values?
She has served on the executive committee of the Progressive Caucus, a socialist organization that, until 1999, was hosted by the Democratic Socialists Of America. They were asked to hide their connection after reviewing focus groups that show Americans still have negative feelings about Socialists. The Democrat leadership distanced themselves on paper to help the Democrats appear mainstream and elect Albert Gore.
See more at sadbastards.wordpress.com
Comment by Mick — November 10, 2006 @ 11:10 pm
[...] I have found this very useful map of the US 10 political regions and their cultural, religious, educational and psychological borders. I will like seeing this map in the next 5, 10 or 15 years and see the transformation of it. I am sure the North will be far North. However, it will be very interesting to see if that “North” will be Democrat or Republican. [...]
Pingback by An interesting map of US political demographics « Homo Homini Lupus — November 11, 2006 @ 2:04 am
One self-serving interpretation of something far more vague and undefinable. “Look how smart we are! We can draw boundaries that don’t exist, and make them say what we want to say!”
Comment by scorch — November 11, 2006 @ 11:20 pm
[...] 9.) Via Kottke, I’ve learned about a cool blog devoted to, well, Strange Maps. Some recently featured maps: Ten Regions of American Politics, Sri Lanka on Top, and Manhattan Neighborhoods. I’m adding Strange Maps to the blogroll. [...]
Pingback by Slinky Links « Rivers Are Damp — November 12, 2006 @ 5:03 am
You missed a spot.
I would call Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin “South Canada” or better yet “West Norway”. It’s basically a Christian Socialist enclave.
Comment by aminorex — November 12, 2006 @ 8:16 am
[...] Tip of the scrub brush to Strange Maps. Explore posts in the same categories: General, Politics [...]
Pingback by 10 political regions that make up the U.S. « Millard Fillmore’s Bathtub — November 12, 2006 @ 10:24 am
In response to number 9, West Tennessee (and eastern Arkansas, for that matter) is not like the rest of Tennessee or the South. Without going into too much of a history lesson, Tennessee is and has been, historically, a tale of three staes. In Tennessee, we call it the Grand Divisions.
East Tennessee is mountainous and very, very conservative.
Middle Tennessee is the swing section of the state. You have Nashville and Murfreesboro which tend to have a populist edge, and then the south central rural areas which tend to be like the rest of the South(Alabama, Mississippi, etc)
West Tennessee, however, tends to be much more liberal than anywhere else in the South. Memphis is much more like Chicago or St. Louis than like Birmingham or Atlanta. Very organized African-American populations and a large percentage of white working class families that tend to vote their economic interests over any social leanings they might have.
2 of the 3 US Congressmen from West Tennessee are Democrats, and the lone Republican is safe only due to the gerrimadering of her district( from the affluent suburbs of Memphis through very narrow streches of West Tennessee to the affluent suburbs of Nashville some 200 miles away).
Historically and geographically, West Tennessee is nothing like Minnesota. Politically, however, we have more similarities than differences.
Patrick
P.S.- The sections of Tennessee are always capitalized. It’s always West Tennessee, never western Tennessee. Ya’ll have a good day.
Comment by northlamar — November 12, 2006 @ 6:16 pm
[...] Take a gander at this discussion on the political makeup of America. I disagree somewhat with the groupings presented forth. America is much more split among rural, suburban, and urban than geography, although geography does play a part. Posted by northlamar Filed in Politics [...]
Pingback by 10 political districts of America « North Lamar Bomb Drop — November 12, 2006 @ 6:22 pm
Maine and parts of New Hampshire are lumped into the same political region as west Texas and the Oklahoma Panhandle? WTF??
Comment by MAS — November 19, 2006 @ 10:54 pm
[...] Tired of just seeing red and blue on political maps? Here’s a map of the 10 regions of American politics. (Also via Kottke.org Remaindered Links.) [...]
Pingback by A Progressive on the Prairie » Midweek miscellany and marginalia — November 24, 2006 @ 8:46 pm
[...] 28 – the 10 Regions of American Politics « strange maps (tags: politics maps demographics) [...]
Pingback by links for 2006-11-27 | thegimmick — December 13, 2006 @ 4:45 am
[...] Strange Maps continues to impress. I especially like this map of U.S. political blocs – not necessarily contiguous. Via Best [...]
Pingback by Strange Maps « Zeal and Activity — January 6, 2007 @ 5:23 am
This post, however off-topic it may be, is about Internet freedom. \”Network Neutrality\” — the First Amendment of the Internet — ensures that the public can view the smallest blog just as easily as the largest corporate Web site by preventing Internet companies like AT&T from rigging the playing field for only the highest-paying sites.
But Internet providers like AT&T, Verizon and Comcast are spending millions of dollars lobbying Congress to gut Net Neutrality. If Congress doesn\’t take action now to implement meaningful Net Neutrality provisions, the future of the Internet is at risk.
In the end game, only large companies will afford domains if the communications monopolies have their way with this. This of course isnt new news, but its coming to a head and blogs like this one will be a ghosttown unless all of us figure it our pretty darn quick. I wont post any links, but advise that if you value the internet, and blogs likw this one, that you search Google for \”Network Neutrality\” and educate yourself on this issue as it effects all of us.
Comment by Dermacia — January 18, 2007 @ 11:05 am
Here are some academics who chose to use actual data rather than dreams, theories, or ivory-tower esoterica to map the U.S. political scene: http://www-personal.umich.edu/%7Emejn/election/
which I wrote about at
http://gochisanfrid.wordpress.com/2007/02/19/most-states-are-purple/
Comment by Gochi Sanfrid — February 19, 2007 @ 10:07 pm
It reminds me somewhat of the Nine Nations of North America, a book by Joel Garreau which divides North America into nine culturally distinct areas (which do not include New York City or Washington DC).
http://www.online.masu.nodak.edu/divisions/hssdiv/meartz/online/ninenations.jpg
Comment by Brendan — March 21, 2007 @ 12:05 am
Its interesting to consider this map alongside these cartograms, variously dependant on electoral college representation or population size:
http://www.cscs.umich.edu/~crshalizi/election/
Comment by nygdan — May 12, 2007 @ 9:36 pm
Fun map.
As a politically-involved American (I’m not telling you what my party is, though), and an amateur political scientist, I’m going to tell you that much of America isn’t as poltically monolithic as the map makes it seem. Here’s the biggest anomalies in each of the 10 regions:
1.) Republican pockets of the “Democratic” Northeast Corridor: The Hamptons (far-eastern Long Island, New York), northwestern and more rural southern New Jersey
2.) Republican pockets of the “Democratic” Upper Coasts: eastern King County Washington (near Seattle), Curry County, Oregon (on the California border), Del Norte County, California (on the Oregon border), northeastern New York, northeastern Vermont, southereastern Massachusetts (near Cape Cod)
3.) Democratic pockets of the “Republican” Farm Belt: Indian (Native American) reservations in North Dakota and South Dakota, pockets of eastern Kansas (especially near Kansas City, Kansas, and major universities), pockets of Indiana (especially in the South, and the big cities of Gary and increasingly Indianapolis), Louisville, Kentucky, some of the cities of Ohio (especially, increasingly, Columbus)
4.) Democratic pockets of Big River: St. Louis and Kansas City, Missouri, eastern Iowa and Des Moines, Iowa, the Twin Cities (Minneapolis-St. Paul) and Iron Ranges (northeast) of Minnesota, western Wisconsin and Madison, Wisconsin, southern Arkansas, Western Tennessee, areas of Southern Illinois and the East St. Louis and Rock Island, Illinois, areas.
Republican pockets of Big River: eastern Wicsonsin outside of Milwaukee, northern and (especially) central Illinois, most of rural Missouri, parts of southern and western Minnesota, central Iowa (especially in counties near Des Moines), western tip of Kentucky.
5.) Democratic pockets of “Republican” Appalachia: coal-mining regions of West Virginia (south) and Kentucky (east central), western Mississippi (home to mostly African-Americans), the Atlanta, Georgia area (especially Fulton, DeKalb, and Richmond Counties).
6.) Democratic pockets of “Republican” Sagebrush: parts of northern Maine and New Hampshire, Hispanic regions of West Texas, some areas of Phoenix, Arizona, certain cities in Montana (especially Missoula), parts of Idaho and Utah that get many skiiers or snowboarders, and/or attract significant settlement from the East (especially in cities like Salt Lake City, Utah and Boise, Idaho), parts of California’s Central Valley, which are getting lots of Hispanics and San Francisco Bay Area exiles.
7.) Republican pockets of “Democratic” Great Lakes: suburban Illinois counties near Chicago (especially DeWitt County), some counties in southestern Michigan near Detriot (especially on the “Thumb”), parts of far northern and western New York (especially along the Pennsylvanian and Canadian borders)
8.) Democratic pockets of “Republican” Southern Comfort: some cities in Florida (espcially the Tampa Bay- St. Petersburg area), Cajun areas of southern Lousiana, the “Little Dixie” area of southeastern Oklahoma, some urbanized parts of Texas (including parts of Houston and, incresingly, most of Dallas).
9.) Nearly all African-Americans in Southern Lowlands, as elsewhere, are Democratic. Most whites are Republican, but significant pockets of Democratic whites may be found in: cities of southeastern Virginia and northern Viginia suburbs of Washington, DC, Delaware (particularly near Wilmington), western and central North Carolina, some pockets of Louisiana (espcially near New Orleans).
10.) Republican pockets in “Democratic” El Norte: some areas of Southern California (especially in Orange, San Diego, Ventura, and northern Los Angeles Counties), pockets of New Mexico and Texas, and the heavily Republican Cuban-American vote in southeastern Florida.
Comment by Darrel Jones — June 4, 2007 @ 7:05 am
Tom:
I’m in Davis, CA, and we are on the border between the Upper Coast and Sagebrush, which actually very aptly applies to current politics. While there has always been a constant influence from the more liberal coast, Davis is by no means a liberal stronghold. The rural backdrop lends itself to periodic conservative and anti-bureaucratic movements, which seem to have a strange relationship with the Republican Party.
That said, I agree about the Mason-Dixon line… Minnesota seems to have much more political influence on and from the Great Lakes region, particularly in National Politics.
Again, those lines are fuzzy, and not as sharp as they’ve been painted.
Comment by Drattage — June 17, 2007 @ 4:16 am
Longtime West Tennessee resident here.
#20 does indeed have a point (he also explains my mother’s side of the family; they’re from East Tennessee). It’s worth noting that of the midterm candidates for Senate here in Tennessee, Harold Ford (Democrat) was from Memphis and Bob Corker (Republican) from Chattanooga in East Tennessee. However, West Tennessee has never struck me as being very socially liberal (indeed, I’ve heard the word “liberal” tossed around as if it were an insult). I would wager that the Democrat-leaning tendencies are mostly caused by the large African-American minority (the majority, in fact, in several counties). Though I do believe our governor is a Democrat. . .
My perception could be influenced by my living in a more rural area than Memphis. But anyway, though #20 is essentially correct, we’re hardly like Minnesota down here. Alas. . .
Comment by CG — June 18, 2007 @ 4:25 pm
I have been informed of an error in my post above.
When I talked about DeWitt County, Illinois, I actually meant DuPage County. Sorry.
Otherwise, that’s my post and I’m sticking to it!
Comment by Darrel Jones — August 7, 2007 @ 5:55 pm
Fascinating map. Perhaps this can be an update of Joel Garreau’s Nine Nations of North America; by the way, Garreau’s map is now on this site too.
Comment by Howard Ahmanson — September 13, 2007 @ 2:03 am
#1-El Norte may be Hispanic, but the ones in Miami are Cubans. Like the Southern Comforts, they tend to vote Republican. But changes are coming.
The Cuban 2nd (and 3rd) gens are trending to a place between Repubs & Dems. No longer will the GOP be able to pander to their hatred of Senor Castro; now effectively out of the picture.
As a Florida resident, I can attest to this.
OTOH, Mexican parents are solidly Dem, though their offspring feel free to trend slightly more to starboard.
#2-Election theft in America has moved from analog retail (ballot boxes thrown into the Perdenales – Mayor Daley’s exhortation to “vote early and vote often”)for most of its history, to digital wholesale.
In 2000, Jeb had a tad less than 3 years to jimmy the state for his half-wit brother. Using every trick (crime) in the book (along with a bit of help from a very stupidly designed ballot by a Dem election supervisor), Jeb and Rove’s minions got it close enough for James Baker and 5 Supreme ideologues to anoint Shrub. 14 other states also reported “anomalies.”
In 2004, in over 15 states, crucially Ohio, upwards of 3.5 million votes went uncounted.
All this is amply documented in Free Press (Ohio website); Greg Palast’s “Best Democracy Money Can Buy”; and Mark Crispin Miller’s jaw-dropping research in “Fooled Again,” among many others.
Rove really is an evil genius. Dubya has yet to win anything (including his Texas governorship – Rove stole that for him as well).
It is now a footrace to see if America gets to see #44 sworn in, or if Cheney & Co. can place the election “on hold,” – for national security, natch – thereby doing away with all that messy democracy stuff in one stroke.
The above is by way of saying that this map – and any others showing alleged voting patterns – are, since 2000, works of well-documented fiction.
It can happen here. Read “The End of America” by Naomi Wolf. Keep all the lights on while you do.
Comment by Nigel j Watson — October 22, 2007 @ 6:15 am
“In 2004, in over 15 states, crucially Ohio, upwards of 3.5 million votes went uncounted.
All this is amply documented in Free Press (Ohio website); Greg Palast’s “Best Democracy Money Can Buy”; and Mark Crispin Miller’s jaw-dropping research in “Fooled Again,” among many others.
Rove really is an evil genius. Dubya has yet to win anything (including his Texas governorship – Rove stole that for him as well).
It is now a footrace to see if America gets to see #44 sworn in, or if Cheney & Co. can place the election “on hold,” – for national security, natch – thereby doing away with all that messy democracy stuff in one stroke.
THE ELECTION IS OVER…………GET OVER IT.
Comment by Fish — October 23, 2007 @ 12:22 am
[...] Ten Regions of American Politics (Strange Maps) [...]
Pingback by Is Oklahoma a Plains or Southern State? « The Electoral Map — February 6, 2008 @ 4:23 am
Limulus,
Democratic domination of the South dated back to the civil war.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_United_States_Democratic_Party#Civil_War.2C_Reconstruction.2C_and_the_Gilded_Age:_1854-1896)
There was no “Dixiecrat” party back then.
Comment by Jody Wilson — August 22, 2008 @ 3:52 pm
thanks.
Comment by hero — October 15, 2008 @ 1:36 pm
Exelent map.
thx
Comment by Herman von Salza — February 14, 2009 @ 12:22 pm
thanks alot
Comment by Tony — May 4, 2009 @ 2:21 am
thanks for this map
good
luck
Comment by Solomon — May 11, 2009 @ 7:09 am
merci
Comment by aspicco . — May 17, 2009 @ 4:50 am
teşekkür ederim
Comment by yory — June 12, 2009 @ 8:11 pm
Vielen Dank
Comment by moon — July 3, 2009 @ 3:50 am
Muchas gracias
Comment by sun — July 4, 2009 @ 6:40 am